DIRECTV and TiVo extend Contract

SOURCE: News.com.com, Wednesday April 12, 2006

‘TiVo and DirecTV said Wednesday that they will extend their commercial agreement for three years.

The agreement will allow existing DirecTV customers using the TiVo digital video recorder to continue to receive maintenance and support from DirecTV. As part of the agreement, TiVo and DirecTV also said they wouldn't sue each other over patent rights.

TiVo, which introduced DVRs to the market, has been struggling to turn a profit. The company's 4.4 million subscribers have mostly come from its deal with DirecTV. Last year, DirecTV said it would stop marketing and selling TiVo's digital recorders to its satellite TV subscribers starting in 2007. Instead DirecTV is developing a device with NDS Group.

Since then, TiVo has been scrambling to differentiate its product and strike other distribution deals. Last year, it announced it was working with Comcast, and a new TiVo product is due later this year for Comcast subscribers.

Murray Arenson, an analyst at Ferris Baker Watts, cautioned that the DirecTV contract extension doesn't indicate that the satellite TV provider has changed its mind about the value of TiVo's product. Instead, it's an admission by DirecTV that it needs more time to transition its customers beyond the 2007 cutoff date, he said.

Ultimately, TiVo will likely end up in a worse position from this deal, since it now seems unlikely that DirecTV will license intellectual property from TiVo, he said.

TiVo is currently suing satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications for allegedly infringing on a patent that defines how digital video recorders work. A TiVo victory in the EchoStar patent case could pave the way for the company to extract royalties from other DVR makers. But because the company is already working with Comcast and has now agreed not to sue DirecTV, TiVo may have fewer options for potential licensees.

"If TiVo wins the EchoStar case, all of sudden they could have this massive addressable market for licensing their technology," Arenson said. "But at the same time they are pairing down that potential market."’

DIRECTV Takes Gaming World by Storm

SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc. Monday January 08, 2007

‘Fatal1ty Trades in Mouse for Microphone as Exclusive Commentator For DIRECTV's Internationally Televised Video Gaming League

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2007--DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, announced today at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show that it is taking the sports entertainment world by storm with launch of the Championship Gaming Series, an international video gaming league which will broadcast to over 100 million homes worldwide starting in Spring 2007 and airing nationally on DIRECTV's The 101. The Series, which was originally announced last year, will expand to feature teams from North America, Latin America, United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia as the world's top pro gamers battle in cyber-space for the international title and over $1 million in prize money.

DIRECTV is in final discussions with global entertainment giants British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) and STAR Asia, among others, to build an international network and to broadcast the Championship Gaming Series. In addition to international televised distribution, the series will partner with Internet powerhouse IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, to provide online coverage, creating a multi-platform opportunity to bring gaming to the masses. Gaming legend Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel will capture the action as the exclusive play-by-play commentator and global league spokesperson and advisor. With a roster of the best pro gamers in the world, unparalleled production values and best-in-class televised sports-style coverage, the series will be the dominant force in professional gaming worldwide.

The series will take the exploding phenomenon of professional gaming to the next level with high-definition televised league play using advanced technology to take viewers inside the games themselves. For the first time in the history of the sport, team members who qualify for the Championship Gaming Series will be drafted by franchises and paid salaries as full-time pro gamers. Team franchises will be led by salaried General Managers, who are established leaders in competitive gaming.

"We couldn't help but notice that gaming had actually become a sport. Not only in the way the gamers created teams to compete, but also in their conditioning and mind set and dedication while playing. So it wasn't a quantum leap to then determine if it was becoming a sport, we should cover it like a sport, said David Hill, President, DIRECTV Entertainment. "The reaction to our first production, the Championship Gaming Invitational, was little short of phenomenal, so it was a no-brainer to take this next logical step to create the series. We believe the combination of a world wide broadcast platform, coupled with forward thinking partners like Mountain Dew, will create a brand new sport which is truly universal. Championship Gaming Series has the potential to become the next soccer in terms of world wide appeal."

The series will employ industry giants to transform the game action into compelling television for both gamers and non-gamers alike. Fatal1ty, who after dominating the sport for seven years, will take on a new role as exclusive play-by-play commentator for the Series. Eleven-time Emmy Award-winner Mike Burks will control multiple high-definition cameras, as well as virtual cameras to cover all the action, both on and off the playing field. With its unparalleled production value and televised sports-style coverage, the Championship Gaming Series will set the standard for professional gaming competitions worldwide.

"DIRECTV really understands the nature of gaming and has figured out how to turn the sport I love into something that gamers and non-gamers will enjoy on television," said Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel. "I can't wait to take over the microphone and play such an important role in the evolution and expansion competitive video gaming. Championship Gaming Series is going to be the best platform for aspiring gamers to realize what it takes to become an international gaming champion."

"We are excited about the Championship Gaming Series and look forward to becoming the lead gaming and broadcast partner for the Series in the UK and Ireland. Gaming fits squarely into Sky's strategy for providing an unmatched in-home entertainment experience and we look forward to moving ahead with the project," comments James Baker, Managing Director of Sky Networked Media.

Championship Gaming Series will be structurally based in five regions around the world - North America, Latin America, UK, Europe and Australia/Asia/Middle East. Each region will host online qualifiers and live tournament events to determine the teams which will represent each area. From those competitions, twelve champion teams will emerge and compete in the league's Grand Slam round. Grand Slam winners, both individuals and teams, will advance to the Championship Gaming Series World Championship, which will be hosted in the United States.

"The Championship Gaming Series has the potential to transform the professional gaming industry," said Frank Cooper, vice president, flavored soft drinks, Pepsi-Cola North America. "As a founding partner of the series, Mountain Dew sees this as a unique opportunity to redefine our role in the world of gaming, supporting a unique initiative that enables gaming enthusiasts get closer to the latest technology."

Championship Gaming Series teams will consist of squads dedicated to playing specific game genres, including racing, fighting, action/adventure/strategy and first person shooters. In the United States, the series will have six regional teams comprised of the best players in each gaming genre.

DIRECTV's first U.S. Championship Gaming Invitational (CGI), which aired in July of 2006, was held in a 16,000-square-foot airplane hanger, at the former Treasure Island Naval Base in San Francisco. Competitors faced off in games such as Electronic Arts(TM) Battlefield 2(TM), Microsoft Game Studio's(TM) Project Gotham Racing(R) 3 and Halo(R) 2, for prizes and instant money payouts. First prize winners included complexity, 20ID, Jason "FiddyownsU" Hodges, Joe "Phantom Hitman" Tackett and Emmanuel "MASTER" Rodriguez. The second CGI took place at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, CA on December 16 and will premiere on DIRECTV's The 101 in February, 2007.

About British Sky Broadcasting

Sky is the UK's leading entertainment company and operates the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Around 21 million viewers in 8.3 million households enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels and interactive services on Sky digital, the UK and Ireland's first and most popular digital television service.

Sky is committed to offering customers an unparalleled choice in content, delivered through innovative and technological advanced platforms that best serve the demands of today's viewers.

About Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel:

In 1999 Johnathan 'Fatal1ty' Wendel began his journey as the world's first full time professional video gamer. Fatal1ty built his legend over the next 7 years by winning or placing top three in almost every tournament he contested. Johnathan has now turned his focus and determination to help make professional video gaming an established sport. Johnathan has joined forces with the Championship Gaming Series as exclusive commentator, global spokesperson and advisor to help take video gaming to this next step. Prior to joining the Championship Gaming Series in January 2007, Johnathan had already won 12 Major Championships, accomplished while competing in 5 different games - an unprecedented achievement. Fatal1ty has placed 1st in 65% of all the competitions he has entered and top 3 in 90% of them. To this day, having competed on six continents, Fatal1ty continues to dominate competitions worldwide.’

DIRECTV Launches Hurricane Katrina Information Channel

SOURCE: TechWeb.com, Friday September 2, 2005

‘DirecTV Inc. on Friday said it has launched a 24-hour Hurricane Katrina information channel that broadcasts a continuous stream of email messages from family and friends of hurricane victims.

Available on channel 100 of the satellite-TV service, the program also provide information on road closures throughout the Gulf region, which was heaviest hit in Monday's storm; the location and phone numbers of special needs shelters in Louisiana and shelter openings throughout the Gulf Coast.

In addition, the channel lists counties and parishes in the Gulf region that are able to assist evacuees, insurance company contact information and relief agency contact information, including phone numbers for the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Feed the Children.

DirecTV, a Los Angeles unit of News Corp., will scroll at the bottom of the TV screen text messages from family and friends separated by the hurricane and its aftermath. Emails sent to katrina@directv.com are reviewed by DirecTV staff and then posted on the channel. A text message also can be sent via cellular phone directly to text code "48433."

Bob Marsocci, spokesman for DirecTV, said the company launched the channel to help address the difficulty victims have had in contacting loved ones. DirecTV has more than 14.6 million subscribers nationwide.

"Watching the news headlines, it became clear that besides the basics of food, shelter and clothing, there was a lack of communications, so we decided to launch a dedicated channel," Marsocci said. "Communication is of vital importance with 10s of thousands of people out of their homes."

DirecTV plans to keep the channel up for "as long as necessary," Marsocci said. The company plans to install its DirecTV in shelters, based on recommendation from federal officials and the Red Cross. Service already has been installed in the Houston Astrodome, which is housing 10s of thousands of victims.

DirecTV isn't the only company trying to help Katrina victims reach loved ones. Internet service provider Earthlink Inc., based in Atlanta, said Friday it has launched a Web page for people to submit their own names and location, and search the submissions of others.’